John voegtlein



(No Model.) 9 J. I VOEGTLBIN.

ARTIFICIAL HAND.

No. 569,593. Patented out. 1 3; 1896.

A Y j w/mErssEs.- i -l I HNE/vra# @if if il, 21

UNITEn STATES PATENT OFFICE. v l

J OIIN VQEGTLEIN, OF REPUBLIC, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ON l-HALF '1`O GEORGE W. BARNES A ND AMANDA E. BARNES,

OF SAME. PLACE. "l

AR'rmciAL HAND.' l

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters ratent No. 569,593,

dated October 13., 1896.

Application iiled latch 9, 1896. Serial No. 582,447. (No model To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, J onN VOEGTLEIN, residing at Republic, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Artiiicil lIIand, of which 4thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an arti fici-al hand; and it primarily has for its object to provide an attachment of this kind of a simple and inexpensive construction, which can be easily manipulated, and whichJ will effectively serve for its intended purposes.

My invention also has for its object to provide an artificial hand having inger-mem bers joined to a wrist portion or stock, each having an independent adjustment, whereby to grasp diierent articles.

Furthermore, my invention seeks to provide an articial hand having finger -members-the movement or adjustment of which is governed by an adjusting means adapted to be operated by the other or-natural hand or by contact with a table or counter.

With other objects in view, which w'rllhereinafter be referred to,`my invention consists in an artificial hand constructed in substantially the manner rst described in'detail, and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a view illustrating my invention as in use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the hand. Fig. 3 is a plan 'view'thereof. Fig. 4 is Ia side View of one of the fin gers. Fig. 5 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the same.

.In its practical'construction my invention comprises four finger members A A'- A2 Y.A3 and a thumb member A4, all of which are constructed substantially alike, the in gers being arranged to operate in a like manner, While the thumb member is arranged to 'close up in a direction opposite to the closing movement of the fingers.

'As theseveral linger members are .con-

structed to operate practically alike, a detailed description of one of such` members will suffice for all.

By referring now more particularly to Figs.

3 and/L it will `be observed the finger A- is composed of; the sections B, C, D', and E, the inner one, B, of which has its end held in a portion F,

'guide-slot fin the end vof the wrist or stockl F, in which slot, as also in theother slots f', provided for members, are held to slide the guide portions g g of a cui G, having an overhanging flange g' for a purpose presently explained.

The front end of the section B is pivotally joined to the rear end of section C, as shown at c, While the said section C is joined to section D by asimilar -joint d, and the section the inner end shaft of the other D to the section E by the pivot e, the several sections B, C, D, and E having their ends lapped, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. l

The several sections B,-C, D, and E are relatively of such av length as' to produce a nffer member having knuckle-joints and poi'tions of substantially that of a natural finger. Y

To provide for the independent movement of the several joints of the fingers, the outer section E is connected with the section C by a toggle connection H, the fulcrum or center pivot of which is a fixed point h on the section D, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The section D is also joined to section C by a toggle-link, which is pivoted at the lower rear edge to the section D and to the forward end of a link member J, centrally pivoted to the section C and having its end j pivotally connected to a link K, pivoted at k io the lower' front end of the section B. To the pivot 7e is also secured the front end of a link L, which is pivotally joined at l to a link M, centrally pivoted to the section B and con'- nected at m to alink N, pivotally joined to a short member g3, extending outward from the slide member G.

The impact or grasping edge of the fingers are serrated' or formed with projections to 'cause them to the more securely hold an article when closed down thereon.

The wrist or stock portion ,F has a screw on which is held a threaded ring P, having an annular groove p to receive the annular flange of the cui member G, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is thought the advantages of my invention and the manner in which the same operates will be readily understood.

It will be seen that the finger members can be adjusted and moved practically like those of a natural hand, and when slipped ontoan article to grasp it they-can be held securely clamped thereto by turning the 'ring P to y draw up the memberr G, which, as it is thus v moved, holds the several toggle-links and the sections B, C, D, and E to a fixed position.

By providing a construction as shown the Ywearer can lean his hand upon a counter or shelf without placing his arm in any par-V v t-icular position.

lVhile I have not shown it in practice, the

` fingers have-a leather or analogous covering.V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat portion and articulated finger members having toggle devices joining same, a slidable cuff member held on the wrist portion connected with the toggle devices and means for sliding such cuff member all arranged substantially as shown and Vfor the purposes described.

An artificial hand comprising a Wrist portion and artificial finger ymembers', toggle devices joining the same, a cuff member joined to such toggle devices, held toslide on the wrist portion and a screw-,ring connected to the said culi", movable on the wrist portion all arranged Vsnh'stantially as shownand described.

4. An artificial hand having a wrist portion articulated finger members connected therewith, and means held on the wristportion adapted to be operated byconfact Wi th a counier or shelve as set forth. Y

JOHN VOEGTLEIN.

llitnesses:

Sco'rr ROWLAND, JAS. G. GIBSON. f 

